THE chair of governors at Trerobart Primary School says the historic building is “not fit for purpose” – despite plans to accommodate a further 60 children from a neighbouring infant school.

Consultation is now under way to close Glanffrwd Infant School, in Ynysybwl, and move all pupils to Trerobart by 2014 – a decision which has angered many parents.

Staff at Glanffrwd now face an uncertain future as redundancies loom large on the horizon.

But parents and governors have decided to fight back.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council aims to get rid of infant schools and merge them with primary schools which cater for three to 11 year olds. The council argues the single primary school model is “in the best interests of current and future pupils”.

In response to the plans, Trerobart Primary School chair of governors, Marianne Jones, says the school is not suitable to cater for more pupils.

She said: “The building is not fit for purpose. It is a very old building which has suffered with dry rot. Ironically, Glanffrwd cook our meals for us and transfer them over.

“We have had to erect a portable building – which costs the authority £2,000 a month – because of problems with the roof.

“Both governing bodies are coming together to fight this merger.”

Coun Sue Pickering, speaking at the council’s Clydach Vale offices, said: “I know there is a pressure on the local authority to get rid of surplus places.

“I was a pupil at Glanffrwd, as were both my children. It was renowned for its high standards of education and nothing has changed. The setting couldn’t be more idyllic.

“Trerobart is over 100 years old and I fear there will be parking chaos as the road will fail to cope with the new intake of cars.”

Chair of governors at Glanffrwd Infants, Amanda Ellis, said some of the figures were inaccurate in the reports, including the amount of pupils at the school.

She said: “Trerobart is a concrete jungle. It will never incorporate our school comfortably.

“We also have to look at our deprivation levels. Even though the Trerobart site is only 0.8 miles away, it would cost £5 return a week for a child. We do not want to put people into further financial woe.

“The proposal is absolutely fraught and full of inaccuracies,” she added.

At present, Trerobart has two separate lunchtimes to cope with the amount of children at the site.

But RCT cabinet says measures are being put in place to improve the facilities at the site and renovate the kitchen areas should any plans be given the go-ahead.

On Monday, cabinet agreed to start the consultation proceedings, which will begin formally on November 7.